WEST COVINA, LA PUENTE, BALDWIN PARK & EL MONTE

Growing up in the east San Gabriel Valley

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As I compile vintage photographs for this blog, I find it difficult to pin-point this entire site to just one city. Myself, being born in West Covina and raised in La Puente during the 1950's, 60's and 70's - my world included the entire east San Gabriel valley. The cities of West Covina, La Puente, Baldwin Park and El Monte were all part of my stomping grounds. Hope you enjoy the memories, just the picture itself has a whole story of it's own - your story and your memory! There are 2 pages of photographs, Click on the pictures below to view larger. Enjoy!

Gary Cliser

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY - EAST L.A. COUNTY

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West Covina PLAZA Shopping Center sign, 1964

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photo from: Susie Peregoy
Looking east, photo taken in parking lot alongside the I-10 San Bernardino Fwy in West Covina, California. The sign is reflecting the afternoon sun showing the great colors of this sign that was built in the late 1950's.

We miss Thrifty's -

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Thrifty Drug Stores are no longer part of the Southern California landscape, but the ice cream still is. Thrifty Ice Cream, a beloved El Monte-based brand served in Rite Aid stores. The ice cream’s famous cylinder-shaped scoops were first sold in Thrifty drug stores for decades.
Rite Aid bought Thrifty in the mid-1990s, and kept the scoop shops inside many drug stores, including those in Southern California. It’s biggest fans are those who recall buying a single scoop for as low as 5 or 10 cents in the 1970s and 1980s.
Even today, the ice cream is inexpensive compared to rivals. A single scoop costs $1.29, while a triple scoop is $2.49.
“Thrifty’s ice cream is by far the best,” one reader wrote. “And you can’t beat the price.”
And apparently you can’t beat the taste. The Thrifty's that was on Amar Rd. in La Puente is where my memories are... I miss Thrifty's.

West Covina - Looking east on Hwy 99 in 1938... before it became I-10

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West Covina - 2011 vs 1938 - eastbound on 1-10

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West Covina - 1938 vs. 2011 Looking eastbound on what is I-10 in 2011 vs. Hwy 99 in 1938. The outlines of the hills remain the same, Forest Lawn is on the other side of the hills. Scott Shannon provided the 2011 shot, USC archives provided the 1938 photograph. I posted the b/w shot a couple weeks ago, but is still amazing to see the comparison photo. Maybe it's just me, but it gives you a whole different perspective about time.

West Covina Plaza, 1950's - Thrifty Drug Store

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photo by Clifford O'Brien

Aerial of West Covina Plaza, 1958

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Aerial of West Covina, 1960 - note the original West Covina Plaza

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I am still trying find ground level detail photographs of the stores at the West Covina Plaza, i.e. Coffee Dans, Woolworths, JC Penney... keep an eye out and let me know if come across any shots, I would love to add them here.

Sunset Apartments, West Covina, 1950's

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Beautiful mid-century photograph of a classic West Covina apartment complex.

Burger Q - 1961

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Ceasar's - 1961

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Tastee Freez, Glendora Avenue, La Puente, 1967

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A & W ROOTBEER, Hacienda Blvd, La Puente, 1965

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Bob's Big Boy, West Covina - 1976

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I took the photograph at the top back in 1976 along with a few other shots of the area that day. Looking back, I wish I took more pictures of those places that are long gone now. Bob's Big Boy was just south of the I-10, where Applebees is now. It remained here until the early 1990's. The photographs below were taken by Louise Helmers back on the day when the West Covina Historical Society was trying to save the large neon sign of Bob's. Lousie Helmers was standing across the street while the crane was taking down the sign. I knew it was a "historical moment" that needed to be documented somehow, said Louise. The bottom photo is one of the crane operators attaching cables to the sign. When the sign fell, That lady in front of the location was from the historical society, standing in the front, you could see her fall to the ground with her head in her hands, screaming "Noooo........noooo......noooo!!!! I even cried, said Louise :'(

The Great Wall - 1965

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Link to view the menu:

http://greatwallwc.blogspot.com/

The God's of Eastland

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Click on Photo to view larger. 1956 Groundbreaking ceremony - L/R, David May, V.P. and dir. of May dept. of stores; Tom May, executive v.p. of May Co,; Joseph K. Eichenbaum, developer of project; Walter J. Brunmark, v.p. and gen. mgr. of May Co., L.A.; and Albert Rosenberg, gen. merchandising director of May Co., L.A.(foreground, bending over table) look at model of project.

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EASTLAND CENTER CHRISTMAS TREE - 1958

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Aerial of Eastland Mall, 1958

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Eastland Shopping Center, West Covina, 1957

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Up close shot to see the vintage cars as well. From the Charles Phoenix collection.
You can click on the image to see a larger view. The sixth shopping mall in Los Angeles County was the first to be freeway-adjacent. EASTLAND CENTER was built on a 49 acre parcel, 22.5 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, directly north of a newly-opened stretch of the San Bernardino Freeway.

Originally an open-air center, EASTLAND was designed by Albert C. Martin and developed by May Centers. It comprised 671,000 square feet, with a 5-level (365,000 square foot) May Company as its primary anchor. This store was the sixth location in the Los Angeles-based chain.

"May's Eastland" opened October 16, 1957 and was built in the grandest of ultra-modern style. A contemporary write-up described the following accoutrements; dramatic exterior design, bright, contemporary interior decor, sleek, silent escalators and elevators and complete air-conditioning of the interior spaces. A fallout shelter was accessed via the basement of the store.

EASTLAND CENTER was oriented on two levels. The mall proper comprised the Upper Level, which was accessed from the north parking area. The "Lower Esplanade" was beneath the Upper Level stores and faced, toward the south, onto a lower parking area.

The center's second anchor was a 2-level (102,800 square foot) W.T. Grant variety store; among the largest in the New York City-based chain. In addition there were Long's Drugs, See's Candies, and F.W. Woolworth.

The first twenty-seven stores had opened, with much fanfare, October 24, 1957. By mid-1958, there was a compliment of fifty-four inline stores and services, including those in an outparcel shopping strip, known at the time as "Avenue Shops".

This adjunct of the mall was situated in the northwest parking area. Its 42,000 square foot Hiram's supermarket gave Blue Chip trading stamps with all purchases.

The land surrounding EASTLAND CENTER was developed over the next decade. The Huddle Restaurant opened in 1958. There were also two across-the-road outparcel entertainment venues; the single-screen Eastland Theatre (which debuted in 1963) and Carousel Theatre In The Round, a live-performance house (in business by mid-1965).

EASTLAND'S first shopping complex competitor, PLAZA AT WEST COVINA, was also located in West Covina. It came inline during 1962. This was followed by PUENTE HILLS MALL, in the City Of Industry, which opened in 1974.

Grant's was shuttered in 1976, with its upper level made into a U-shaped concourse area, having storefronts on the north and south sides and a retail block at its center.

By 1978, the mall and concourses were being enclosed and climate-controlled. A 2-level (80,000 square foot) Mervyn's was added west of the old Grant's structure. These mall modifications were completed by 1979.

By the early 1990s, EASTLAND was in a serious state of decline, as WEST COVINA FASHION PLAZA (a redress of PLAZA AT WEST COVINA) had become the dominant mall in the immediate vacinity. The grand old "May's Eastland" had been shuttered in October 1993. Its basement area had been leased by Sportmart some years before.

Plans to demall EASTLAND into a big box power center were announced in the mid-1990s. The mall, practically deserted by this time, closed in 1997. It was purchased by the Australia-based Westfield Group in 1998.

During this time frame, the existing mall structure was gutted, except for Mervyn's. Eleven category killer / big box stores were fitted into the interior spaces of the Upper and Lower Levels. The new-style -once again open-air- WESTFIELD SHOPPINGTOWN EASTLAND debuted in 2000.

Today, the tenant roster of the 847,000 square foot EASTLAND includes Target and Burlington Coat Factory (on the site of the old May Company), Bed, Bath and Beyond, Dick's (nee Chick's) Sporting Goods, Office Depot, Marshalls and Old Navy.

The Avenue Shops outparcel strip center has also been renovated and renamed the Street Shops. It features an Albertsons supermarket, Long's Drugs and several smaller retailers.

Eastland, West Covina 1958

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Fun Zone Arch, L.A. County Fair - 1960's

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CRAWFORD'S at FIVE POINTS, EL MONTE, Then & Now

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Late 1940's and in 2011
(It's no longer Crawfords)

Tumbleweed Theater, Five Points, El Monte

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CRAWFORDS - EL MONTE Late 1940's

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CRAWFORD'S, El Monte at Five Points, California The Biggest Country Store in the World is a nationally famous marketplace attracting 70,000 customers weekly. Crawford's sold everything from apple pies to appliances.

Capri Theater, West Covina - 1967

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1977 parkinglot on Francisquito at a Baldwin Park Laundrymat

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Merritt's Hardware, Glendora Ave., La Puente

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Miniature Golf, Valley Blvd, La Puente / Industry

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Glendora Ave and South Garvey, West Covina, 1950's

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photo by Clifford O'Brien

IT'S THE QUALITY -

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LA PUENTE - The Donut Hole in La Puente is more immersive for the car-bound than Randy's, since you can actually drive through its brown double-dunker portal. Its also a favorite of film location scouts, since it sits conveniently within the "Zone."

The Donut Hole was built in 1968, the two hollow ends fashioned from fiberglass and spanning 26 feet. One of a chain of five doughnut shops, this is the one that has survived. Plunked down in a typical store-jammed suburbia, the Hole's digestive system is taxed as a stop-and-go stream of cars are gulped down and unceremoniously pooted out. The fresh-baked choices are arrayed within, trayed along interior windows. We recommend buying an assortment bag of orange topped, plain and glazed.

So if you like Googie architecture and doughnuts, the Donut Hole has it all. You can't miss it. As you approach the drive-in, you'll see two mammoth chocolate doughnuts in a baker's box. There are two kinds of jelly doughnuts here, raspberry and lemon, both glazed. And the place is open 24 hours a day, so if the craving hits, you know where to go. 15300 Amar Rd. in La Puente. South of I-10, north of the 60, east of the 605 and west of the 57. On the corner of Hacienda Blvd. and Amar Rd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Donut_Hole

old GIGI'S BURGER on Amar in La Puente

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Alpha Beta, La Puente, California - 1957

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Alpha Beta, Covina, California - 1953

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Edwards Drive In, El Monte - 1948

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Downtown El Monte, California 1950's

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Clifton's Cafeteria interior - Eastland Center - 1968

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Carousel Theater, West Covina - 1965

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HELMS BAKERY MAN - Portner Street, West Covina, Calif. 1967

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Photo from J David Rogers
We were faithful Helms Bakery patrons the entire time we lived in West Covina, from 1952 on into the 1970s. The date of this photo is October 1967, and the Helms driver is Mr. Paulson, who lived in Covina.

Eastland Center, West Covina - 1960's

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La Puente aerial shot - 1963 (see Hacienda & Valley center left)

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La Puente memory

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When Orange Groves Ruled the Valley

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Sears El Monte

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Sears came to El Monte in or around 1958. It was located on Peck Road between Stewart and Sitka Street.

Los Angeles Streetcars - 1950's

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Edgewood Drive In Theater, Baldwin Park, California

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MEMORIES of EL MONTE - The Penguins

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Taco Bell, Francisquito Avenue, Baldwin Park, California 1968

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Original IN N OUT Sign, Baldwin Park, California

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Baldwin Park Ice Company, Baldwin park, California 1977

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La Puente farm between Valley and Gale, 1977

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Main Street, La Puente, California - 1959

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La Puente Library, Main Street, 1966

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The Donut Hole, La Puente, California

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J&B's - Main Street, La Puente, California

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Star Theater, La Puente, California

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Humpty Dumpty Land, La Puente

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Little Naomi enjoying a ride at Humpty Dumpty Land, Valley Blvd, 1970's

Vineland Drive In Theater, La Puente, California - 1975

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El Monte Sign Company

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Legion Stadium, El Monte, California 1965

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Starlite Drive In Sign, S. El Monte, California - sign circa 1950's

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El Monte Twin Theater, Valley Blvd, El Monte, California - 1980's

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Bel Air Motel, El Monte, California 1958

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Downtown El Monte, California 1960

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Pontiac Dealer sign, Valley Blvd, El Monte, California

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Eastland Theater Grand Opening, West Covina, 1957

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Huddle Restaurant, West Covina, California 1965

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SCOA DEPT STORE - West Covina, 1966

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Thriftimart, Francisquito Avenue, West Covina, California 1959

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Bob's Big Boy, Vincent Avenue, West Covina, california 1977

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Home Video - Trippin' Around L.A. - 1958

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White Front, Azusa Avenue, Covina, 1959

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Covina Bowl, Covina, California, 1956

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Cortez School, West Covina, California

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Los Angeles - late 1940's

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Hotel Rowland, La Puente, California 1880's

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La Puente farmland - 1940's

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Hudson School, La Puente, California - 1910

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La Puente, called Puente in earlier times, viewed from P-Hill - 1920

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Main Street, La Puente, California - 1930's

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Workman Temple Homestead, La Puente, California - 1921

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The Ranchos of eastern Los Angeles County, 1898

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Stafford Mill, Valley Blvd, La Puente, California 1940's

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